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Sunda Scops-owls roosting

on 18th September 2016

Jeremiah Loei’s video of the Sunda Scops-owl (Otus lempiji) family was documented in Mid-August 2016 at Lower Peirce Reservoir. The owls were roosting in a palm, perching on the back of a frond, one adult and two juveniles. “…they are very productive, with regular brood being spotted yearly,” wrote Jeremiah.

ScopsOwlSund [JeremiagLoei]

Birds usually roost during the night but owls, being nocturnal, roost during the day (see video below).

Roosting owls are often mobbed by smaller birds HERE and HERE. Usually a few smaller birds will gang up to mob the bigger owl.

Now why do smaller birds harass owls that are generally larger and can cause harm to the former? According to one theory, mobbing is instinct rooted in the Darwinian struggle for survival LINK. After all, mobbing is an anti-predator behavior.

Jeremiah Loei
Singapore
25th August 2016

This post is a cooperative effort between Birds, Insects N Creatures Of Asia and BESG to bring the study of birds and their behavior through photography and videography to a wider audience.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

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